Impact of Iranian Cultural Components in Teaching Persian to Non-Persian Speakers: A Learners’ Perspective

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 instructor of Persian to speakers of other language, Hazrat-e Masoumeh University

2 , Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, Allameh Tabataba'i Univrsity, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Culture plays a fundamental role in second/foreign language learning, and familiarity with its various aspects can enhance learners’ comprehension and interaction. The present study aimed to examine the impact of Iranian cultural elements on teaching Persian as a foreign language from the learners’ perspective. This research employed a mixed-methods design with the participation of 150 Persian learners at upper-intermediate and advanced proficiency levels from Indian, Pakistani, Arab, and Korean backgrounds. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire developed on the basis of Yuen’s (2011) and Peterson’s (2004) cultural models. The questionnaire was distributed online via Google Forms. The findings indicated that learners perceived Iranian cultural elements as facilitating their Persian language learning. They reported that familiarity with Iranian cultural domains—including cultural products, beliefs, social values, cultural practices, and notable figures—contributed to deeper language comprehension and more effective interaction with the Iranian sociocultural context. Among these, cultural practices had the strongest impact, while cultural experiences and learning were reported to have the least effect. These findings can inform the development of instructional materials and the design of more effective programs for teaching Persian as a foreign language.

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 02 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 17 October 2025

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